Liam is nonverbal and the things he does for attention seeking are hitting, throwing, and removing clothes and trying to occasionally run off from adult supervision. These are the behaviors that sent him to alternate school. However, all though they can be attention seeking, these same behaviors can be because of sensory issues or his communication deficit. Hitting can be for attention but in some situations it is a way of saying 'no, I really do not want to go to the store or be at the doctors office....' Throwing can be for attention but he likes the sound so it all has a sensory seeking component. The stripping when he first started was for attention but now mostly it is when it's 110 degrees in the Texas Sumner or there is diaper rash. So the same behaviors maybe be sensory 1 day but attention seeking the next. Someone who works with Liam told me if I will be occupied and expect attention seeking give an abundance of attention first and then go be busy. I have not got to try because when I see Liam's attention there is 30 minutes at home in between appointment and when my shift starts.......

My (4) year old has limited verbal skills, but she knows "Mommy" and she will yell it at the top of her lungs if she loses sight of me. If I don't respond right away she escalates. Its incredibly frustrating. The language barrier prevents us from being able to talk about what alternatives she has instead of screaming and smashing things if I leave the room. I calmly tell her that she is too loud, and that if she needs me to come to me and tell me what she needs: A hug, help with something, to show me something... I wish she could understand all of that and also that sometimes mom needs a few minutes to herself now and then!

I'd say my oldest son does bad things on purpose when he attention seeks. He always asks about reactions. Like when he makes one of his siblings cry he asks "what did I do?" Because he wants them or us to tell him what he did. He was asking his oldest sister when he pulled the fire alarm. Asked if she went outside and for other details.